1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. Live Rockets Discussion
    Jalen Green looks like a legit star, Amen Thompson is shining and the Rockets have found something without Alperen Sengun. Clutch is talking about the 10-game winning streak at 11:00am as we talk Rockets live!

    Talking Rockets - LIVE!

[ClutchFans] Podcast: Former Rockets coach Bill Fitch talks with ClutchFans

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Clutch, Oct 15, 2013.

  1. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 1999
    Messages:
    22,643
    Likes Received:
    31,817
    This was a personal honor to have former Rockets coach Bill Fitch on the podcast. Some really good insight from him on Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson and the early/mid '80s Rockets. We also talked about Kevin McHale getting into coaching and how he accepted the 6th Man role despite being a high draft pick.

    http://rockets.clutchfans.net/5147/podcast-rockets-coach-bill-fitch/
     
    4 people like this.
  2. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2007
    Messages:
    45,153
    Likes Received:
    21,570
    Whoa! Very much a person I'd love to hear from. Will listen as soon as I get home.
     
  3. tallanvor

    tallanvor Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2007
    Messages:
    16,961
    Likes Received:
    8,591
    Well done Clutch.
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 1999
    Messages:
    36,739
    Likes Received:
    13,131
    Damn, now that's a guest.
     
  5. Haymitch

    Haymitch Custom Title
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2005
    Messages:
    27,892
    Likes Received:
    23,009
    Great interview. I'd be afraid to even ask him a question for fear of it sounding too dumb.
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. maczmina

    maczmina Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2013
    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    1
    Great interview.
     
    1 person likes this.
  7. CXbby

    CXbby Member

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2002
    Messages:
    8,701
    Likes Received:
    10,685
    I thought the questions were excellent. Interesting to hear that McHale wasn't the greatest practice player at first, and basically had to get whipped into it. Maybe that allows him to relate to his players more. Not every player's psyche works like a Bird or Jordan.
     
    1 person likes this.
  8. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2000
    Messages:
    21,567
    Likes Received:
    10,430
    McHale has stated the same thing many times. It was Bird that set the example and made everyone play harder. That is why he was a great coach eventhough he didn't handle any of the X and O's when he was with the Pacers.

    I see the same thing with McHale. He doesn't have to handle the X and O's, he just needs to teach guys how to win.
     
  9. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

    Joined:
    May 15, 2000
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    13,046
    Awesome. Congrats on the interview! That must have been pretty exciting.
     
  10. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2007
    Messages:
    45,153
    Likes Received:
    21,570
    Nice interview. I wished you guys had more time to get into stuff like specific McHale stories. I read that McHale chafed under Fitch's drill instructor approach to coaching. Wonder if Fitch has any dirt on McHale.
     
  11. BimaThug

    BimaThug Resident Capologist
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 1999
    Messages:
    8,341
    Likes Received:
    4,810
    Dammit, Dave!

    We were probably going to do another podcast together soon, but how the hell am I supposed to follow THAT act?! :p

    Great job, bud. Amazing guest. Excellent interview.
     
  12. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 1999
    Messages:
    1,563
    Likes Received:
    190
    That was excellent.
    Really, really enjoyed.
     
  13. Baba Booey

    Baba Booey Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2012
    Messages:
    2,516
    Likes Received:
    822
    Thanks again, Clutch.

    I really appreciate these podcasts. Keep up the good work!
     
  14. Clutch

    Clutch Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 1999
    Messages:
    22,643
    Likes Received:
    31,817
    I appreciate all the compliments... thank you. It was a great experience for me to talk Rockets, McHale with Bill ... really brought back a lot of memories for me as a fan.

    If you have CSN Houston, Bill Worrell's interview of Fitch ("Conversation with Bill Fitch") is airing right now.
     
  15. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 1999
    Messages:
    45,156
    Likes Received:
    31,111
    McHale acted like a goofball under KC Jones, too, from what I heard. He wasn't a practice guy, but when the game started, he got serious really fast.
     
  16. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2007
    Messages:
    45,153
    Likes Received:
    21,570
    I think McHale being a goofball at times is why Bill Fitch told Clutch that he thought McHale may be able to reach Howard and get him to the next level. McHale, like Howard, loves to joke around and have fun but you don't become a Hall of Famer or DPOY without having putting in hours and hours of serious work on a sustained basis.

    Books and articles about the old Celtics indicate that Bird was kind of bothered by McHale having too much fun and not being the same sullen maniacal competitor that Bird was. (These teams used to have a split between "Kevin guys" and "Larry guys" with few who were members of both. Bird would also be more generous with praising Parish than praising McHale).

    Does the McHale-Bird dynamic remind anyone of two players on a team last year?
     
  17. jtr

    jtr Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 4, 2011
    Messages:
    7,470
    Likes Received:
    275
    Another exceptional feather in your cap! Congrats.
     
  18. crash5179

    crash5179 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2000
    Messages:
    16,465
    Likes Received:
    1,290
    Great interview Dave! How the heck did you get Bill Fitch?

    One big thing I took from the interview is that Bill thinks Asik and D12 can play 10 - 20 minutes a game together regardless of the opponent.
     
  19. Zboy

    Zboy Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2002
    Messages:
    27,234
    Likes Received:
    21,955
    Excellent interview.
     
  20. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2007
    Messages:
    45,153
    Likes Received:
    21,570
    Speaking of playing two bigs together: What was Jim Petersen's game like back in the 80s? Was he a good mid-to-long range shooter? How did the Petersen-Olajuwon combo work?
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now